Shai
Meaninggift · Hebrew
- US rank
- #2,326
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #1,664 in 1993
78 babies were named Shai in the US in 2025. It has climbed 115 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1968–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Shai you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 20,619 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Shai, 78 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Shai would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryShai first shows up in US birth records in 1968, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 57 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1993, when it reached #1,664.
- TrendShai has climbed 115 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #2,326. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Boy or girlShai is given to both boys and girls: 73% of the 293 babies named Shai in 2025 were boys. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Shai means “gift”.
About the name Shai
Shai is a girl name of Irish origin meaning “gift”. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with S and ending in “-hai”. US birth records list Shai for girls from 1968 to 2025, in 56 of those 58 years. Its best year was 1993, when it ranked #1,664 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #2,326, with 78 babies.
Origin:Irish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.3 | 303,030 girls |
| 1970s | 4.2 | 238,095 girls |
| 1980s | 5.0 | 200,000 girls |
| 1990s | 25 | 39,573 girls |
| 2000s | 19 | 52,966 girls |
| 2010s | 20 | 50,839 girls |
| 2020s | 58 | 17,109 girls |
Other spellings of Shai
More Irish girl names
- Girl name: Abigail · my father is joy
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Unisex name: Kennedy · helmeted head
- Unisex name: Rylee · rye clearing
- Unisex name: Sloane · raider
- Unisex name: Alani · orange tree
- Girl name: Everleigh · boar clearing
Questions about the name Shai
What does the name Shai mean?
Shai means “gift” in Hebrew.
What is the origin of the name Shai?
Shai has Irish roots in our records. Other Irish names include Abigail, Riley, Maeve.
Is Shai a boy or girl name?
Shai is a girl name, though a few boys get it too.
How popular is the name Shai?
Shai ranked #2,326 for US girls in 2025, given to 78 babies. Its best year was 1993 (#1,664).